| By O.M. Wakefield To many, Jean Shepherd was a | | | | influential guide into a realm of rebellion, |
| radio genius, magnificent storyteller and more. He has | | | | non-conformity, art, music and humor. Well known |
| often been referred to as "a Mark Twain for our | | | | books by Shepherd include "In God We Trust, All |
| time". At the same time, he was a unique and unusual | | | | Others Pay Cash" and "Wanda Hickey's Night of |
| individual who meant different things to different | | | | Golden Memories". But most will remember him best |
| people. However, most will universally agree that Jean | | | | for his wonderful stories narrated in his own voice via |
| Shepherd was a Great American Humorist. Shepherd | | | | the magic of talk radio. When it comes to Jean |
| was born in Chicago on July 26, 1921 and divided his | | | | Shepherd radio show stories there is a great legacy |
| youth between Chicago's south side and Hammond, | | | | left behind and hundreds of hours of entertainment |
| Indiana. In the years when Dwight D. Eisenhower was | | | | available. Whether you are an established self |
| the United States President, Shepherd was the radical | | | | proclaimed fan of Jean Shepherd or not, these old |
| voice of pop culture in the best sense of the word. | | | | radio stories are a "must listen" for anyone who |
| But in the purest sense Jean Shepherd was a | | | | loves humor, great stories, and the history of humor. |
| humorist, in the classic comic tradition taken from the | | | | Luckily, due to the resurgence of interest in nostalgic |
| adages that "truth is often found in humor" and also | | | | radio shows hundreds of great Jean Shepherd |
| that "pain is often found in truth". Jean Shepherd was | | | | episodes are readily available online. The best source |
| a very popular cult radio and cabaret personality in | | | | for these (that I have found) is Bookzap, There you |
| New York during the 1950's and 1960's. One thing | | | | can find over seven hundred episodes of Jean |
| that makes Shepherd's appeal so universal is the fact | | | | Shepherd radio shows on both CD and DVD disks |
| that his stories ring true and nostalgic for listener | | | | with crystalline clear sound quality. I highly |
| whether or not they lived in the era he usually wrote | | | | recommend that you check Bookzap out! Of course |
| and spoke about. A renowned PBS and talk radio | | | | Mark Twain and Garrison Keilor will always get their |
| personality, Shepherd was responsible for creating | | | | due respect as two of America's greatest story |
| many nostalgic humorous pieces of Americana | | | | tellers ever, while Jean Shepherd rarely gets a |
| storytelling, which later led to his being compared to | | | | mention. But consider this, Jean Shepherd was |
| the likes of Garrison Keilor. Earlier, from 1950-1954, | | | | probably the greatest kazoo player of the past 50 |
| Jean Shepherd was a radio DJ on WSAI Radio and | | | | years, and an ardent defender of its use. Who else |
| also appeared on a nightly comedy show, "Rear | | | | can say that? O. M. Wakefield is active in the Old |
| Bumpers," on WLW, in Cincinnati. Jean Shepherd's | | | | Time Radio Community as a Collector and Reviewer. |
| most notable and well known achievement was | | | | He advises folks to visit Bookzap's Giant OTR |
| perhaps the creation of the indefatigable Ralphie | | | | Collections and Radio Treasury OTR Online Catalogs |
| Parker and his quest for a BB gun in the holiday | | | | for wonderful values and information regarding the |
| classic "A Christmas Story". In the transition from the | | | | Old Time Radio Show possibilities. |
| "Leave It To Beaver 1950s" to the brave new world | | | | More articles from this pro: M. |
| of the volatile Sixties, Jean Shepherd was an | | | | |